Loaf-slicing and wrapping attachment for bread wrapping machines



Nov. 22, 1932 F. c. GLADECK ET AL LOAF SLICING AND WRAPPING ATTACHMENT FOR BREAD WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet r LA Taw @WK S, mm v um Q @n Nov. 22, 1932. F. c. GLADECK E11-AL LAF SLICING AND WRAPPING ATTACHMENT FOR BREAD WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Aug. 50,1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK C. GLADECK AND JAMES W. WARREN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF N EW JERSEY LOAF-SLICING AND WRAPPING ATTACHMENT FOR BREAD WRAIPING MACHINES Application led August 30,

T his invention relates to improvements in wrapping machines and methods, and par-` ticularly to loaf slicing attachments for bread wrapping machines of the type shown in the copending application of F. R. Schmitt, Serial No. 334,479, tiled January 23, 1929. The main object of the invention is to provide mechanism for cutting a loaf of bread, or other article, into individual slices and Wrapping the same, which is adapted to be attached to the bread wrapping machine in' such a manner that the loaf is cut into slices While it is being fed to the wrapping mechanism of the machine, without necessitating the use of an additional container or other holdingmeans to keep the slices together. A further object is the production of a novel method of wrapping sllced bread and other articles. With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then set forth in the appended claims.

In order to produce sliced bread packages, it has heretofore been necessary to rst slice the loaves in a separate slicing machine, then to transfer the sliced loaf to the wrapping machine, and finally to wrap it in the latter; and during the said transfer as well as in the initial stage of Wrapping, the slices had to be prevented from falling apart byl a special container such as a paper tray, or by bands, wires, or other means. The mechanism provided in the present invention dispenses with these containers and holding means and eliminates the additional operator required for transferring of the loaves from the slicing machine to the Wrapping machine.

,In carrying the invention into effect, the method of wrapping bread and other articles is employed wherein the sliced loaf has a wrapper folded circuniferentially about it and the ends of the wrapper are closed by tucking the rear sides thereof and successively folding down the top, front and bottom sides thereof. In the apparatus selected to carry the invention into effect. there is provided means for slicing a loaf of bread or other article, means for circumferentially folding a wrapper about the article, and means for clos- 1930. Serial N0. 478,954.

ing the ends of the Wrapper. Preferably the slicing means will includeapluralityofspaced reciprocating knives and a pusher for moving the articles past said' knives. In the best constructions also, the means for closing the ends of the wrapper will include plates for tucking the rear sides of the wrapper ends and stationary folders for folding down the top, front, and bottom sides of the wrapper ends. These various stepsand parts may be widely variedin construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific method and apparatus illustrated and described.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a portion of the side elevation of a bread Wrapping machine, showing the improved slicing device and Wrapping mechanism attached to the machine frame in a sultable position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the slicing A mechanism taken on line -2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view from line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 10, 10, are the side frames of the bread Wrapping machine, 11 is a tie plate connecting said side frames, 12 is an inclined feed-in runway over which each loaf L, as it is delivered by a feed conveyor, not shown, is transferred by a pusher 13 having ahead provided with spaced iingers adapted to engage the loafl to a camoperated transfer member such as a transfer table or lifting table 14, when the latter is in its inclined position, and 16 is the horizontal discharge runway on which the final folding and sealing of the package is performed. The pusher 13 is slidably supported by frames 10 and is reciprocated by a lever 17 actuated by any suitable means, not shown. The table 14 is fulcrumed on a shaft 18 supported by the side frames 10 and is actuated by a rod 19 ias controlled by a cam, not shown. The runway 12 is supported by crossbars 20, attached to :trame 10, and the discharge runway 16 is mounted on cross shafts 21 held by trames 10.

yOnleaving the runway 12, the advancing loaf L encounters the downshanging 'tree end of the wrapperl 'web W which is thereby folded around three sides of the loaf, as it moves to the position L on table 14. The top sides of the ends of the wrapper are folded down, as hereinafter described, while the table 14 swings upwardly to a horizontal position and carries the loaf into its upper position L, from which pusher lingers 15 depending from a moving endless chain, not shown, transfer the sante to position L" on runway 16, at which the hanging tail end of the wrapper W, which has been severed from the web on approaching position l/,as hereina'ter described, is folded under the loaf. "While being carried into positions L" and 1.1" along runway 16, the front and bottom sides of the ends of the wrapper are folded against the loaf by means hereinafter described and the package is sealed by suitable heating units, not shown, incorporated in the runway.

The side frames 10 of the wrapping machine support shafts 22 and 23 carrying the brackets 24, in bearings 25 of which are slidable the rods 26, the lower ends of which are connected by a rod 27 having the loosely mounted strap-lever 28 which engages with the eccentric 29 on shaft 30 which is rotated by sprocket 31 driven by chain 32 'from sprocket 33on motor 34. The sha-ft 30 is supported in bearings of a bracket 35 suspended from shaft 22, and the motor 34 is mounted on the tie plate 11. The upper ends of rods 26* carry brackets 36 to which are attached the end frames 37 between which the slicing knives 38 are mounted on bolts 39 on which they are separated by spacers 40. Onitheir upper ends, the frames 37 have brackets 41 in which are fastened slide rods 42 engaging lwith the guide bearings 43 in side frames 10.

The leading end W of the wrapper web is guided by a supporting plate 44 and hangs down in back of the slicing knives 38 from a roller-rod 45,'the free end passing through the gap between runway 12 and table 14. As the loaf L is advanced into position L by they pusher 13, the wrapper web is carried by it into position W from which the table 14 carries it withthe loaf into position W, the web then being guided by the upper rollerrod 46. Upon the raising of the table 14, the

,clamping frame 47 moves into holding posinaearer i g by unwinding from the wrapper-web reel an additional length oi' wrapper Wm suliicient .tor starting the next package, whereupon the knife 53, turning on shaft 54, cuts the wrapper along ledger plate 55 'fastened to the table i. Y Having cut the wrapper, the knife then moves back into the ull line position shown in Fig. 1, and the loaf L with its wrapper W on the table is moved by one pair ofthe pushers 15 onto the runway 16, the downwardly hanging end of the cut wrapper being drawn over clamp-roller 48 which in the meantime has moved a short distance away from block 49. The roller 48 turns on trunnions supported by iframe 47, and connecting rods'56 and 57, actuated by suitable means from the drive of the wrapping machine, impart the required oscillating motions to the clamping frame 47 and to the knife 53 respectively.

To prevent the slices of loaf L from sliding out of position on the inclined table 14 upon the recession of pusher 13, a swinging guard-rail 58 controlled by a rod 59 from any suitable means is provided at the torward edge of table 14, this` guard-rail being raised as soon as the pusher has suiiciently receded to clear its motion, and again depressed intoV its neutral position before the swinging table has reached its horizontal position.

The loaf L on being advanced-into osition L is guided by a tension plate 60, adgustably attached to clamp posts 61 carried by the support plate 44, which steadies the same while passing vacross the reciprocating knives 38 which cut it up into the desired number of slicesl The' sliced loaf, as it is pushed through the slicing knives 38 yby the spaced fingers ontheipusher 13, passes between a pair ofadjustable side guides 62 attached tc runway 12f'immediate'ly behind the knives 38, thus'y preventingthe slices from separating after leavingthe knives and before they are firmly held by plates 63 which engage the loaf as it advances on table 14. As Ithe loa-f enters upon the table 14, it encounters a back-tension plate 64 which itpushes back as it advances on the transfer, -thepla'te 64 being mounted on a base 65 sliding in a track in the transfer member.

When the plate 64 is in its 'forward position, a raised portion of base 65 engages a resiliently pressed lever 66 pivoted in lugs 67 of table 14 and carrying a post 68 on which is adiustably mounted a top-tension plate 69 which comes down on 'the loaf L after the latter has entered transfer 14 far enough to push the raised portion of base 65 past the roller 70 of lever 66.

rlhe tucker plates 63 which are arranged to close upon the loa'f as shown in the patent to H. Y. rmstrong,No. 1,626,379, April 26, 1927, tuck in the rear sides of the wrapper pau ends and hold them in position while table 14 swings to its, horizontal position. In approaching the latter position, the top sides of the wrapper ends encounter the stationary folders 71 which are resiliently mounted on adjustable arms, not shown, carried by the wrapping machine frame, thereby callsing the top sides of the wrapper ends to be folded down against the loaf over the plates 63. Onbeing transferred onto the runway 16 by pushers 15, the front sides of the wrapper ends are engaged by the stationary side folding plates 7 2, also resiliently mounted on said adjustable arms carried by the frame, the folders 72 gripping the package before the same has completely emerged from the folders 71 and folding the front sides of the wrapper ends over the downwardly folded top sides.

`The pusher fingers 15, in transferring the sliced loaf package L', engage with the back tension plate 64 which has slots registering with the pushers 15 butl not quite deep enough to allow them to pass through, so that the plate 64 is carried along by the pushers and in turn forwards the package, thereby distributing the localized pressure of the fingers over the entire width of the package and holding the slices in alignment. After the forward side of the package has well entered upon runway 16, the table 14 commences to swing downwardly, thereby withdrawing the plates 63 and lowering the tension plate 64 and permitting the fingers 15 to pass through 0 its slots thus coming in direct contact with the bread package while leaving plate 64 in the proper position near the end of transfer 14 to receive the next loaf being advanced and to be pushed back by the same.

As the bread package L advances on runway 16, the bottom sides of the wrapper ends enter a vertically inclined slot formed between the side folding plates 72 and the bottom folding plates 73, and are thereby gradually'folded up as shown in position L so that, upon leaving folder 78, the bottom sides of the wrapper ends are closed against the package which then has the appearance seen at L The folding plates 72 and 73 as well as the end portion of runway 16 are heated by suitable means, not

s shown, so that, since waxed paper is usually employed for wrapping bread, all folds of the package L are properly sealedvwhen it is discharged from runway ,16.

'.[fhe package being continuously engaged by the means described, from the time the loaf emerges from the slicing knives to its complete envelopment by the wrapper,no separate containers for holding the slices together during the progress of the wrapping process are re uired with the mechanism herein describe In view of the foregoing, further description of the operation of the improved method and apparatusis deemed unnecessaryand is omitted for the sake of brevity.. f

It will be noted that in the present construction the loaves are pushed directly into the wrapper along one continuous line of motion, i. e. having no angular or abrupt changes of direction likely to misalign the slices. This construction also results in a simpler machine requiring a minimum amount of transporting of the sliced loaf.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination withy a wrapper positioning device, of a moving element for forwarding a loaf sidewise Into a wrapper in said device, and coacting mechanism engaging and cutting said loaf'into slices while being forwarded by said element.

2. The combination with a wrapper positoning device, of a moving element for forwarding a loaf sidewise into a Wrapper in said device, coacting mechanism engaging and cutting said loaf into slices while being forwarded by said element, and means bearing on the ends of the loaves, and cooperating w.th said cutting mechanism and forwarding element to hold the slices together.

3. The combination with a wrapper positioning device, of a moving element foil forwarding a loaf sidewise into a wrapper in said4 device,icoacting mechanism engaging and cutt'ng said loaf into slices while being forwarded by said element, and means bearing on the ends of the loaves and cooperating with said cutting mechanism and forwarding element to hold the slices together, said means comprising relatively stationary means bearing on the ends of the loaf.

4. The combination with a wrapper posi-- t'oning device, of a moving element for forwarding a loaf sidewisc into a wrapper in said device, and coacting mechanism engaging and cutting said loaf into slices while being forwarded by said element, said ele- 4ment comprisfng a slotted plunger adapted to pass through the cutting mechanism and devices for reciprocating said plunger to push the loaves through and beyond the knives and into the wrapper a distance sufficient to enwrap the front side and top and bottom of the loaf.

5. In a wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with a transfer table, of an ax'- tfcle slicer, means for positioning a wrapper between said slicer and said table, an d means for pushing an article in one direction through the slicer into the wrapper and onto the table.

6. The combination with a transfer table movable between article receiving and article delivering pos'tions, of means for positionposition, and folding mechanfsm for receiv- I per supplying and positioning mechanism, a

pushing element, mechanism operating said element to push articles along one llne of movement through said slicer directly into said wrapper to partially enwrap the same,-

and devices acting on the ends of the article to hold the slices together during said pushing and enwrapping 9. ln a wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with a swinging transfer table, of an article slicer, mechanism for pushing articles throu h the slicer onto the table, devices for holding the slices together while on said table, and means for swinging said talole.

l0. ln a wrapping and slicingr machine, the combination with a swinging, transfer table, of an. article slicer, mechanism for pushing articles through the slicer onto the table, devices for holding the slices together while on 'said table, means for swinging said table, and means for feeding Wrappers into the path of the articles between the transfer table and the slicer,

ll. rllhe combination with wrapper feeding means, of loaf supporting and guiding surfaces on either side of the fed wrappers, means for pushing loaves along one surface into the wrapper and onto the other surface, a plurality of slicing knives in the path of the loaves as they are pushed along one surface toward the wrapper, and means above and below the path of the loaves for operating said knives.

cuinferentially about the sliced article, means for closing the ends of the wrapper, devices for forwarding the, loaves along one continuous line of movement through said slicing means into said folding means, and mechanism for forwarding the eniiolded article in said end closing means lli. The combination with means for slicing an article to be wrapped, of mechanism inserer for folding a wrapper circumferentially ahoutthe sliced article, means for closing the ends of, the wrapper, and mechanism for forwarding the enfolded article in said end closing means, said slicing means including a. reciprocating frame, a plurality of slicing knives mounted in said frame in spaced rela--A tion, an inclined runway adapted to guide the articles to said knives, a reciprocating pusher having a plurality of fingers arranged to engage the article and move it past said knives, a ,tension plate arranged to press the article against the runway during its movement past said knives, and a pair of side guides mounted on sai-d runway for holding the slices together as they leave said knives.

15. The combination with means for slicing an article to he wrapped, of mechanism for folding a wrapper circumferentially about the sliced article, means for closing the ends of the wrapper, and mechanism for forwarding the enfolded article in said end closing means, said means for closing the ends of the wrapper including plates for tucking the rear sides of the wrapper ends, stationary folders for folding down the top sides of the wrapper ends, a runway to which the article is transferred by said forwarding mechanism, stationary side folding plates overlying said runway for folding down the front sides of the wrapper ends and stationary bottom folding plates for folding down the bottom sides of the wrapper ends.,

lli. A slicing and wrapping machine comprising a reciprocating trame., a plurality oi" spaced slicing knives mounted in said trame, a runway adapted to guide the articles to said knives, a reciprocating pusher arranged to move the articles past said knives, a tension plate arranged toI press the article against the runway during its movement past said knives, and a pair of side guides mounted on said run way for holding the slices together as they leave said knives. and mechanism for partially wrapping sliced articles as they leave the runwaye l?. lin a loaf slicing and wranoping'machinex the combination with a loaf slicer, of spaced supporting and guiding surfaces in alignment with the hottom side of loaves being sliced, devices Jlfor feeding wrapper material downwardly between said surfaces, and mechanism for pushing' sliced loaves in one continuous line of movement through said slicer into said wrapper material fromwone surface to the other surface.

ln a loaf slicing and wrapping machine., the combination with a loaf Slicer, oit spaced supporting and guiding surfaces in alignment with the bottom side of loaves heing sliced, devices for feeding wrapper material between said surfaces. and mechanism. for pushing sliced loaves into said wrapper material from one surface to the other surface, end folding means above said surfaces ldd lili

and mechanism for periodically lifting said last mentioned surface to bring the partially' wrapped sliced loaves to sai-d end folding means. y

19. In a loaf slicing and wrapping machine, the combination with a loaf slicer, of means for forwarding loaves ysidewise through the slicer, loaf transferring means for receiving lthe sliced loaves said means having holding devices travelling with the transfer means and engaging the front and rear sides of the loaves.

20. In a loaf slicing and wrapping machine, the combination with a loaf slicer, of means for forwarding loaves sidewise through the slicer, loaf transferring means for receiving the sliced loaves, said means having holding devices travelling with the transfer means and engaging the front and rear sides of the loaves, and other holding devices traveling with the transfer means engaging the ends of the loaves.

2l. In a loaf slicing and Wrapping machine, the combination with a loaf slicer, of aligned supporting and guiding surfaces for the loaves, means for causing movement of the loaves along one of said surfaces and through the slicer and thence to a second one of said surfaces, end folding means vertically spaced from said second surface in loaf receiving position, mechanism for periodically moving said last mentioned surface to bring the sliced loaves to said end folding means, and means cooperating with said second surface to partially wrap the sliced loaf prior to its arrival at said end folding means.

22. In a loaf wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with a loaf slicer, of wrapper supplying and positioning mechanism, a transfer device cooperating with said mechanism to partially enwrap a loaf, and means for causing movement of the sald loaves sidewise along one continuous line through said slicer and into said device.

23. In a loaf wrapping and slicing 'machine, the combination with a loaf slicer, of wrapper supplying and positioning mechanism, a transfer device cooperating with said mechanism to partially enwrap a loaf, means for causing movement of the said loaves sidewise along one continuous line through said slicer and into said device, and instrumentalities for completing the folding of the wrapper about said loaf, said transfer device operating to carry the partially wrapped loaf to said instrumentalities.

24. In a loaf wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with a loaf-Slicer, of wrapper supplying and positioning mechanism, a lifter table, folders cooperating with said lifter table, means associated with said lifter table and said wrapper supplying and positioning means for partially enwrapping the loaves, and mechanism for causing movement of the loaves in the same vertical plane through the slicer and onto said lifter table.

25. In a loaf wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with a loaf Slicer, of wrapper supplying and positioning mechanism, a lifter table, folders cooperating with said lifter table, means associated with said lifter table and said wrapper supplying and positioning means for partially enwrapping with said table to perform wrapping operations on a sliced loaf thereon, mechanism for moving a sliced loaf from said slicing devices to said table, and a yielding plate engaging the leading side of said loaf during its movement onto said table operating to align ythe slices thereon.

27. In a wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with loaf slicing devices, of a transfer table, wrapping means cooperating with said table to perform wrapping operations on a sliced loaf thereon,-mechanism for moving a sliced loaf from said slicing devices to said table, and a yielding plate engaging the leading side of said loaf during its movement onto said table operating to align the slices thereon, said yielding plate being mounted on the transfer table for movement with the same.

28. In a wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with loafslicing devices, of vertically movable loaf transfer, wrapping means cooperating with said-transfer to perform Wrapping operations on a sliced loaf thereon, mechanism for moving a loaf from said slicing devices onto said transfer, and

means traveling with said transfer engaging all four upstanding sides of the loaf to hold the slices in position.

29. In a wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with loaf slicing devices, of vertically movable loaf transfer, wrapping means cooperating with said transfer to perform wrapping operations on a sliced loaf thereon, mechanism for moving a loaf from said slicing devices onto said transfer, means traveling with said transfer engaging all four upstanding sides of the loaf to hold the 7 slices in position, and a holding plate'traveL ngfwith said table engaging the top of said 30. In a wrapping and slicing machine, the combination with a' swinging transfer table, of an article slicer, mechanism for pushing articles through the Slicer onto said table, devices for holding the slices together while on said table, means for' swinging said table, and means for feeding Wrapping matez/ciel into the pzitli oit the articles loetvveen Vseid telole and Slicer, seid slieei" including n 'reeipi'ooeting freine and speeed slieinv knives mounted on seid frame, ond sei mechanism including s ieciproceting pusliei having e, pluiality oi spaced ngers adept/ed to engage the article and move it through said knives.

3l, in a, Wrapping ond slicing machine, the eoinbination with a swinging transfer table, of an article slicei', mechanism 'for pushing eiticles through the Slicer onto seid table, devices for holding the slices together While on seid table, means `for swinging seid teble, seid slicei' including o, ieciproeeting :freine and spaced slicing knives mounted on said frame and said mechanism including o, recipioceting pusher having a plurality of speoed lingers adapted to engage the article and move it through seid knives; l

in testimony whereof, We have signed oui` names -to this speciiicstion.

FREDERICK C. GLADEUK. JAMES W. WARREN.

1@ Leeevev 

